Dart game device comprising image-capture device for capturing images of dart games

ABSTRACT

In order to achieve the object, disclosed is a dart game apparatus for recording a moving picture of a part during a dart game. The dart game apparatus includes: a camera unit for recording the dart game; a touch unit for sensing that a dart game player is ready for throwing a dart; and a controller for controlling the camera unit, wherein the controller allows the camera unit to start recording at the time when the touch unit senses that the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart. An object of the present invention is to store or transmit only small-capacity data by recording only a part of a dart game or selecting and storing or transmitting only a part of an image of an entire dart game to reduce a burden in storing and transmitting data and remarkably reduce a time for verifying the data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/759,347 filed on Jul. 6, 2015, which is a national phase applicationof International Application No. PCT/KR2014/00042, filed on Jan. 3,2014, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2013-0001396, filed on Jan. 7, 2013. The entire contents of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/759,347 are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dart game apparatus including arecording apparatus for recording a dart game, and particularly, to adart gate apparatus including a recording apparatus for verifyingwhether a dart game is righteously played.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a dart means a ‘small arrow’ and is a game that makes apoint by throwing an arrow-shaped dart pin to a centrifugal target withnumerical figures, a dart game has an advantage in that anyone can enjoythe dart game anywhere anytime regardless of a season if only anarrowhead-shaped dart and a dart target are provided. In recent years,while various game methods have been developed and a scoring method isarranged, and as a result, the dart game has been developed as worldwideleisure, all adults and children have conveniently enjoyed the dartgame.

However, in general, participants of the dart game need to participatein the game at the same time and in the same space in order to enjoy thedart game. However, with development of communication technology, eachof the participants of the dart game may remotely participate in thedart game and remotely transmit a play result or a play process thereofthrough a communication network. As a result, the participants of thedart game may participate in the game over a temporal and spatialrestriction.

When the participants of the game enjoy the dart game by mutuallytransmitting dart game play results thereof through the communicationnetwork, at least some of the dart game participants or a third personmay preferably verify a dart game result or a dart game process of acounterpart for a righteous dart game.

Referring to a technical document (Korean Patent Unexamined PublicationNo. 10-2009-0078647) in the related art, disclosed is a method thatrecords a moving picture by using a first camera deployed to record atleast some of the game participants and a second camera deployed torecord at least a part of the target and authenticates, when the gamesuch as the dart game is remotely played through a configuration inwhich the recorded moving picture is transmitted through the network,the played game.

However, according to such a method, since the moving picture istransmitted by recording the entirety of the dart game, a capacitythereof is unnecessarily large, and as a result, a lot of time isrequired for transmitting data and an excessively long time is requiredto verify an image from the transmitted data, which becomes an obstaclein rapid progression of the dart game.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Unexamined Publication No.10-2011-0021069

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

In order to solve the problem, an object of the present invention is tostore or transmit only small-capacity data by recording only a part of adart game or selecting and storing or transmitting only a part of animage of an entire dart game to reduce a burden in storing andtransmitting data and remarkably reduce a time for verifying the data.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the object, disclosed is a dart game apparatus forrecording a moving picture of a part during a dart game. The dart gameapparatus includes: a camera unit for recording the dart game; a touchunit for sensing that a dart game player is ready for throwing a dart;and a controller for controlling the camera unit, wherein the controllerallows the camera unit to start recording at the time when the touchunit senses that the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart.

Further, the dart game apparatus may further include a sensing unit forsensing that the dart contacts a dart target, wherein, the controllermay allow the camera unit to perform recording from the time when thetouch unit senses that the dart game player is ready for throwing thedart up to the time when the sensing unit senses that the dart contactsthe dart target.

In addition, the camera unit may include a first camera for recording atleast a part of the dart game player and a second camera for recordingat least a part of the dart target.

The dart game apparatus may further include a memory unit for storing atleast a part of the moving picture recorded by the camera unit.

Moreover, the dart game apparatus may further include a networkconnection unit for transmitting the moving picture recorded by thecamera unit to a network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, disclosed adart game apparatus for editing a part of a moving picture acquired byrecording a dart game. The dart game apparatus may include: a cameraunit for recording the dart game; a buffer unit for temporarily storingmoving pictures recorded by the camera unit; a sensing unit for sensingthat a dart contacts a dart target; and a controller for editing amoving picture within a predetermined time from the time when the dartcontacts among the moving pictures stored in the buffer unit when thesensing unit senses that the dart contacts the dart target.

In addition, the dart game apparatus may further include a memory unitfor storing the moving picture edited by the controller.

Further, the dart game apparatus may further include a networkconnection unit for transmitting the moving picture edited by thecontroller to a network.

Moreover, the dart game apparatus may further include a networkconnection unit for transmitting the moving picture stored in the memoryunit to the network.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, disclosedis a dart game recording method for recording a moving picture of a partduring a dart game by a dart game apparatus. The dart game recordingmethod may include: sensing that a dart game player is ready forthrowing a dart; and recording the dart game from the time when it issensed that the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart.

Further, the dart game recording method may further include sensing thatthe dart contacts a dart target, wherein in the recording, the recordingis performed during a period from the time of sensing that the dart gameplayer is ready for throwing the dart up to the time of sensing that thedart contacts the dart target.

Further, in the recording, at least a part of the dart game player andat least a part of the dart target may be recorded.

Further, the dart game recording method may further include storing atleast a part of the recorded moving picture.

In addition, the dart game recording method may further includetransmitting the recorded moving picture to a network.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention,disclosed is a dart game recording and editing method for editing a partof a moving picture acquired by recording a dart game by a dart gameapparatus. The dart game recording and editing method may include:recording the dart game; temporarily storing the recorded movingpicture; sensing that a dart contacts a dart target; and editing amoving picture within a predetermined time from the time when the dartcontacts among the stored moving pictures when it is sensed that thedart contacts the dart target.

Further, the dart game recording and editing method may further includestoring the edited moving picture in a memory.

In addition, the dart game recording and editing method may furtherinclude transmitting the edited moving picture to a network.

Moreover, the dart game recording and editing method may further includetransmitting the stored moving picture to the network.

According to still yet another embodiment of the present invention,disclosed is a computer-readable recording medium including a programcode allowing at least one computer to record a moving picture of a partduring a dart game by a dart game apparatus. The computer-readablerecording medium may include: a program code for allowing at least onecomputer to sense that a dart game player is ready for throwing a dart;and a program code for allowing at least one computer to record the dartgame from the time of sensing that the dart game player is ready forthrowing the dart.

According to still yet another embodiment of the present invention,disclosed is a computer-readable recording medium allowing at least onecomputer to edit a part of a moving picture acquired by recording a dartgame by a dart game apparatus. The dart game apparatus may include: aprogram code for allowing at least one computer to record the dart game;a program code for allowing at least one computer to temporarily storethe recorded moving picture; a program code for allowing at least onecomputer to sense that the dart contacts a dart target; and a programcode for allowing at least one computer to edit a moving picture withina predetermined time from the time when the dart contacts among thestored moving pictures when it is sensed that the dart contacts the darttarget.

According to still yet another embodiment of the present invention, adart game apparatus for storing a moving picture of a part of a dartgame. The dart game apparatus may include: a camera unit for recordingthe dart game; a memory buffer unit for temporarily storing movingpicture data acquired by recording the dart game; a memory unit forstoring the moving picture data acquired by recording the dart game; asensing unit for sensing that a dart contacts a dart target; and acontroller storing moving picture data within a predetermined time basedon the moment when the dart contacts in the memory unit from the memorybuffer unit when the sensing unit senses that the dart contacts the darttarget.

Advantageous Effects

According to a configuration of the present invention, since only amoving picture at a specific time in a dart game can be recorded,stored, or transmitted, problems caused by recording, storing, ortransmitting too many moving picture data can be solved.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data game apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a game network including the dart gameapparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating recording areas of first and secondcameras.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a moving pictureduring a predetermined time interval including a moment when a dart gameoperation is sensed is stored in a memory.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a stored moving picture including apoint of the dart game operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a dart game moving picture of whichprimary authentication is completed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a webpage displaying a dart game resultof which primary authentication is completed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a dart game data authenticatingmethod of the dart game apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a throw line and a touch unit according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a throw line and a touch unit according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a dart game recording method forrecording a moving picture of a part during a dart game by a dart gameapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart of a dart game recording and editingmethod for editing a part of a moving picture acquired by recording adart game by a dart game apparatus according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method for storing a partial movingpicture of a moving picture acquired by recording a dart game by a dartgame apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE

Various embodiments will be described below with reference to thedrawings. Various descriptions are presented through the embodiments forexemplification in the following description. However, it is apparentthat the embodiments can be executed without the specific description.In other examples, known structures and apparatuses are presented in ablock diagram form in order to facilitate description of theembodiments.

“Component”, “module”, “system”, and the like which are terms used inthe specification designate a computer-related entity, hardware,firmware, software, and a combination of the software and the hardware,or execution of the software. For example, the component may be aprocessing process executed on a processor, the processor, an object, anexecution thread, a program, and/or a computer, but is not limitedthereto. For example, both an application executed in a computing deviceand the computing device may be the components. One or more componentsmay reside in the processor and/or execution thread and one componentmay be localized in one computer or distributed among two or morecomputers. Further, the components may be executed by variouscomputer-readable media having various data structures, which are storedtherein. The components may perform communication through local and/orremote processing according to a signal (for example, data through othersystem and a network such as the Internet through data and/or a signalfrom one component that interacts with other components in a localsystem and a distribution system) having one or more data packets, forexample.

Further, various aspects or features presented herein may be implementedas manufactured articles using a method, an apparatus, or a standardprogramming and/or engineering technique. The term “manufacturedarticle” includes a computer program, a carrier, or a medium which isaccessible by a predetermined computer-readable device. For example, acomputer-readable medium includes a magnetic storage device (forexample, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, or the like), anoptical disk (for example, a CD, a DVD, or the like), a smart card, anda flash memory device (for example, an EEPROM, a card, a stick, a keydrive, or the like), but is not limited thereto. Further, variousstorage media presented herein include one or more devices and/or othermachine-readable media for storing information. The term“machine-readable media” include a wireless channel and various othermedia that can store, posses, and/or transfer command(s) and/or data,but are not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dart game apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The dart game apparatus 100 may include a dart target 110, a sensingunit 120, a user input unit 130, an output unit 140, a camera unit 150,a network connection unit 160, a user authentication unit 170, a memory180, a controller 190, and the like. The components illustrated in FIG.1 are not essential components. Therefore, a mobile terminal having morecomponents therethan or less components therethan may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in sequence.

The dart target 110 may mean a score board in which a bullseye ispositioned at the center and areas segmented by a concentric circlecentering the bullseye and straight lines extended radially from thebullseye and granted with individual scores, respectively are present.Multiple holes into which a tip of a dart may be inserted may bedeployed on the score board.

The dart target 110 includes a display 142 to be described below tovariably change score deployment of the dart target 110 and shapes ofareas granted with the scores. In this case, the dart target 110includes an optical transmissive touch pad in the display 142 to bestacked to have a form of a touch screen.

The sensing unit 120 senses a play of a dart game player performed withrespect to the dart target 110 to evaluate a play of an actual gameplayer. The sensing unit 120 may sense that a dart contacts the darttarget with respect to a play in which the game player throws the dartand sense which area of the dart target 110 the thrown dart hits. Thesensing unit 120 electrically converts a signal meaning that the dartcontacts the dart target and a score corresponding to the area which thedart hits to transmit the converted signal and score to the controller190.

The user input unit 130 receives an input of a user for controlling thedart game apparatus 100. The user input unit 130 may include a keypad, adome switch, a touch pad (resistive/capacitive), a jog wheel, a jogswitch, or the like. The user input unit 130 may also include cameras151 to 153 or a microphone.

The user may select a dart game mode, the number of dart game players, adart game play scheme, and the like through the user input unit 130. Forexample, the user may select the number of dart game players, the dartgame play scheme (a zero one game, a cricket game, and the like), andthe dart game mode (a single play, a network play, and the like) throughthe user input unit 130.

The user input unit 130 receives a signal by sensing a key operation ora touch input of the user or receives voice or a motion through thecameras 151 to 153 of a user or the microphone to convert the receivedsignal, voice, or motion into an input signal. To this end, known speechrecognition technology or motion recognition technologies may be used.

The output unit 140 which is used for generating an output related withsight, hearing, or touch may include a sound output module 141, adisplay 142, a notification unit 143, and the like.

The sound output module 141 may output audio data received from thenetwork connection unit 160 or stored in the memory 180 in a soundeffect of the game, a game motion guide, a game method description, andthe like. The sound output module 141 may output a sound signal relatedwith a function (e.g., a game effect sound) performed by the dart gameapparatus 100. The sound output module 141 may also output a voice of agame player or a third person using another dart game apparatus 200 (seeFIG. 2) received through the network connection unit 160. The soundoutput module 141 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and thelike.

The display 142 displays (outputs) information processed in the dartgame apparatus 100. For example, when the dart game apparatus 100 is ina game play scheme guidance mode, the display 142 may output aselectable game play scheme. When the dart game apparatus 100 play agame, the display 142 may display the score sensed through the sensingunit 120 or output an image acquired by recording the game player or thethird person using another dart game apparatus 200 (see FIG. 2) receivedthrough the network connection unit 160.

The display 142 may include at least one of a liquid crystal display(LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), anorganic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, and a 3Ddisplay.

Some displays thereamong may be configured as a transparent or opticaltransmissive type to view the outside therethrough. This may be called atransparent display and a representative example of the transparentdisplay includes a transparent OLED (TOLED), and the like.

Two or more displays 142 may be present according to an implementationform of the dart game apparatus 100. For example, in the dart gameapparatus 100, multiple displays may be deployed on one surface to beseparated or integrally and further, deployed on different surfaces,respectively.

A touch sensor may be configured to convert pressure applied to aspecific portion of the display 142 or a change in capacitance generatedat the specific portion of the display 142 into an electrical inputsignal. The touch sensor may also be configured to detect pressure intouch as well as a touched location or area.

When there is a touch input for the touch sensor, a signal(s)corresponding thereto is sent to a touch controller. The touchcontroller processes the signal(s) and thereafter, transmits datacorresponding thereto to the controller 190. As a result, the controller190 may know which area of the display 142 is touched.

The notification unit 143 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence ofan event of the dart game apparatus 100. Examples of the event whichoccurs in the dart game apparatus 100 include identification of the dartgame player, direct hit of the dart, a change of the dart game player,game over, and the like. The notification unit 143 may output in anotherform other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, a signalfor notifying the occurrence of the event by vibration. The notificationunit 143 may include a light emission diode (LED) and notify theoccurrence of the event to the user through flickering of the LED.

The camera unit 150 includes multiple cameras 151 to 153, and as aresult, an image frame processed by the cameras 151 to 1153 may bestored in the memory 180 or transmitted to the outside through thenetwork connection unit 160. Two or cameras 150 may be providedaccording to a use environment.

At least some cameras of the camera unit 150 may be deployed to recordan image frame including the dart target 110 and other some cameras maybe deployed to record an image frame directly related with a game rulein the dart game play. For example, the camera may be deployed to recorda throw-line on which the dart is thrown in order to record the imageframe directly related with the dart game rule. The multiple cameras 151to 153 included in the camera unit 150 may be deployed to record atleast some image frames to overlap with each other.

When the camera unit 150 includes one camera, the camera may be apanorama camera deployed to record both at least a part of the darttarget 110 and the image frame (e.g., the throw-line in the dart game)directly related with the game rule.

The network connection unit 160 may include one or more modules thatenable wireless communication between the dart game apparatus 100 and awired/wireless communication system or between the dart game apparatus100 and a network on which the dart game apparatus 100 is positioned.

The network connection unit 160 may include a wired/wireless Internetmodule for accessing the network. As the wireless Internet technology,wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), worldinteroperability for microwave access (Wimax), high speed downlinkpacket access (HSDPA), or the like, may be used. As wired Internettechnology, digital subscriber line (XDSL), fibers to the home (FTTH),power line communication (PLC), or the like may be used.

Further, the network connection unit 160 includes a short-rangecommunication module to transmit and receive data to and from anelectronic apparatus positioned in a comparatively short range from thedart game apparatus 100 and including the short-distance communicationmodule. As short range communication technology, Bluetooth, radiofrequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultrawideband (UWB), ZigBee, or the like may be used.

The network connection unit 160 may sense a connection state of thenetwork and a transceiving speed of the network.

Data received through the network connection unit 160 may output throughthe output unit 140, stored through the memory 180, or transmitted toother electronic apparatuses positioned in a short range through theshort-range communication module. The user authentication unit 170recognizes unique information of a long-range user by using a radio wavethrough the RFID technology which is a kind of the short-rangecommunication technology. For example, the user may possess a card, amobile terminal, or unique dart game equipment, for example, personaldart equipment possessed thereby, which includes an RFID module.Information (e.g., a personal ID, an identification code, and the likeof the user registered in the database server (DB) (see FIG. 2) foridentifying the user may be recorded in the RFID module possessed by theuser. The dart game apparatus 100 identifies the RFID module possessedby the user to identify a dart game player which plays the game by usingthe dart game apparatus 100 and update a database for the identifieddart game player or accumulate new data.

The user authentication unit 170 may include various technologies (e.g.,the short-range communication technology such as the Bluetooth, and thelike) that may transmit and receive unique information of the user by acontact/non-contact method in addition to the RFID technology. Further,the user authentication unit 170 may include a biodata identificationmodule that identifies biodata (voice, a fingerprint, and a face) of theuser by interworking with the microphone and the touch pad of the userinput unit 130, the camera unit 150, and the like.

The memory 180 may store a program for a motion of the controller 190therein and temporarily store input/output data (e.g., a phone book, amessage, a still image, a moving picture, or the like) therein. Thememory 180 may store data regarding various patterns vibrations andsounds output in the touch input on the touch screen.

The memory 180 may include at least one storage medium of a flash memorytype storage medium, a hard disk type storage medium, a multimedia cardmicro type storage medium, a card type memory (for example, an SD or XDmemory, or the like), a random access memory (RAM), a static randomaccess memory (SRMA), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory(PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. Thedart game apparatus 100 may operate in connection with a web storageperforming a storing function of the memory 180 in the Internet.

The controller 190 generally controls all motions of the dart gameapparatus 100. For example, in the case of the dart game, the scoresensed through the sensing unit 120 is aggregated for each gameparticipant, the aggregated score is transmitted to and received fromanother dart game apparatus 200 connected through the network, and agame winning/losing record according to the aggregation result, thescore, and the like is recorded.

The controller may perform pattern recognition processing to recognize amotion input, a writing input, and the like performed in the touchscreen or the camera as a letter or an image. Further, the controllermay perform speech recognition by using a speech-to-text (STT) functionto recognize the speech input through the microphone as the letter.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a recordingmedium or a recording medium readable by a computer a device similar tothe computer by using, for example, software, hardware, or a combinationthereof.

According to hardware implementation, the embodiment described hereinmay be implemented by using at least one of ASICs (application specificintegrated circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), DSPDs (digitalsignal processing devices), PLDs (programmable logic devices), FPGAs(field programmable gate arrays, processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electric units for performingother functions. In some cases, the embodiments described in thespecification may be implemented by the controller 190 itself.

According to software implementation, embodiments such as a procedureand a function described in the specification may be implemented byseparate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform oneor more functions and operations described in the specification. Asoftware code may be implemented by a software application written by anappropriate program language. The software code may be stored in thememory 180 and executed by the controller 190.

The dart game apparatus 100 may include a touch unit 195 positioned in apredetermined area adjacent to the throw line indicating a locationwhere the dart game player throws the dart and authenticating whetherthe dart game player righteously executes the dart game.

The touch unit 195 may be extended in a direction distant with respectto the dart target 110 from the throw line and it may be authenticatedthat the dart game is righteously performed only when the dart gameplayer throws the dart while touching the touch unit 195.

FIG. 9 illustrates the dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the dart game apparatus 100 may include a bottompart 901. In an embodiment, the bottom part 901 as a form to soar from aground by a predetermined height may include a throw line 902 and atouch unit 903.

The touch unit 903 occupies a predetermined area of the bottom part 901in a distant from the dart target on the throw line 902. Only when adart game player 904 throws the dart while touching the touch unit 903,for example, only when the dart game player 904 throws the dart whilestepping on the touch unit 903, a score of the dart game player 904 maybe accepted. By such a configuration, it may be authenticated that thegame is righteously performed by a scheme in which the dart game playerthrows the dart at a righteous location even though the dart gameplayers at remote places do not verify mutual plays with their eyes in aremote multi game mode.

FIG. 10 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the bottom part does not soar from the ground bythe predetermined height and is buried in the ground unlike FIG. 9.Alternatively, in the embodiment, the bottom part is not separatelyprovided, but may mean an area including a throw line 1001 and a touchunit.

In FIG. 10, only the throw line 1001 is recognized by a dart game player1002 and only when the dart game player performs play while touching,for example, stepping on the predetermined area in the direction distantfrom the dart target on the throw line 1001, it may be authenticatedthat the dart game player righteously executes the dart game.

FIG. 11 illustrates a throw line 210 and a touch unit 220 according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, since the touch unit 220 is provided in the formof a predetermined quadrangular area adjacent to the throw line 210,only when the dart game player performs playtouches, for example, stepson the touch unit 220, it may be authenticated that the dart game playerrighteously executes the dart game.

FIG. 12 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a bottom partaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The sound output module 141, the display 142, or the notification unit143 described with reference to FIG. 1 may be included in multiplefacilities which may be included in the dart game apparatus 100. Themultiple facilities may include at least one of the dart game device,the throw line, a path, a pole, a wall, a table, and a chair. In thecase of the sound output module 141, the display 142, or thenotification unit 143 included in the multiple facilities, a flickeringscheme, a pattern of a change in color and of the notification unit 143or the display 142 and a pattern of a sound effect of the sound outputmodule 141 may be changed with occurrence of the events which occur inthe dart game and a change in pattern may be controlled by thecontroller 190. The notification unit 143 may be, for example, an LEDillumination unit as described above.

The memory 180 may store patterns of the sound output module 141, thedisplay 142, or the notification unit 143 included in the multiplefacilities.

Referring to FIG. 12, the dart game apparatus 100 may include a bottompart 1201. In an embodiment, the bottom part 1201 as a form to soar froma ground by a predetermined height may include a throw line 1202 and atouch unit 1203.

The touch unit 1203 occupies a predetermined area of the bottom part1201 in a distant from the dart target on the throw line 1202. Only whenthe dart game player 1204 throws the dart while touching the touch unit1203, for example, only when the dart game player 1204 throws the dartwhile stepping on the touch unit 1203, a score of the dart game player1204 may be accepted.

Only when events which occur in the dart game occur, the notificationunit 143 executes a predetermined illumination pattern, and as a result,the throw line 1202 as a form including the notification unit 143, forexample, an LED illumination may be recognized by the dart game player.

In the embodiment, the bottom part 1201 which is formed by asemi-transmissive member may be so transparent that the dart game playermay recognize the bottom part 1201 only when the alarm unit 143 of thethrow line 1202 is lit up, but so opaque that the dart game playercannot determine a location in which the illumination unit is buriedwhen the alarm unit 143 is lit out. Since the alarm unit of the throwline is not lit up when the event of the dart game does not occur, forexample, when the dart game apparatus does not start, the dart gameplayer may not recognize the throw line. However, when the dart gameplayer starts the dart game apparatus, the alarm unit is lit up at thetime of initially starting the game, and as a result, the throw line1202 may be displayed. For example, the dart game apparatus may be atype that may start only by inserting a coin and in this case, only whenthe dart game player starts the game by inserting the coin, theillumination unit of the throw line is lit up to display the throw line.

The semi-transmissive member is installed as described above and thealarm unit capable of displaying at least the throw line is buriedtherebelow and the illumination unit of the throw line is lit up onlywhen the user starts the dart game apparatus in order to prevent theuser from perform an exercise dart from being played on the throw linewhile the user does not start the dart game device, in particular, doesnot insert the coin when the dart game device is a type which may startonly by inserting the coin. When the user does not start the dart gamedevice, since the user does not know an accurate distance of the throwline, it is possible to prevent the user from occupying the dart gamedevice to play the exercise dart. In particular, when the dart gameapparatus is a form to start only by inserting the coin, it is possibleto prevent the user from playing the exercise dart without expense.

According to the embodiment, when the event which may occur in the dartgame occurs, for example, when the dart game player starts the dart gameapparatus by righteously playing the expense, the throw line 1202including the alarm unit 143 buried in the bottom part 1201 as theopaque member may be recognized by the dart game player by activation ofthe alarm unit 143 and only when the dart game player touches the touchunit 1203 positioned in a direction distant with respect to the darttarget on the throw line 1202, for example, throws the dart whilestepping on the touch unit 1203, it may be accepted that the dart gameis righteously played in a remote multi mode game.

FIG. 13 illustrates a dart game apparatus including a touch unitaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the bottom part made of a semi-transmissivematerial may be buried in the ground. The bottom part may include athrow line 1301 and may include a touch unit that extends in a directiondistant from the target from the throw line 1301.

The throw line 1301 may include the alarm unit 143 and as described withreference to FIG. 12, when the event which occurs in the dart gameoccurs, for example, when a dart game player 1302 starts the dart gameapparatus by righteously paying the expense, the throw line 1301including the alarm unit 143 buried in the bottom part as the opaquemember may be recognized by the dart game player by the activation ofthe alarm unit 143 and only when the dart game player touches a touchunit positioned in a direction distant from the dart target on the throwline 1301, for example, the dart game player throws the dart whilestepping on the touch unit, it may be accepted that the dart game isrighteously played in the remote multi mode game.

FIG. 14 illustrates a throw line and a touch unit according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, a touch unit 320 may include the alarm unit 143and when the event which occurs in the dart game occurs, for example,when the dart game player starts the dart game apparatus by righteouslypaying the expense, the touch unit 320 including the alarm unit 143buried in the bottom part as the opaque member may be recognized by thedart game player by the activation of the alarm unit 143 and only whenthe dart game player touches the touch unit 320, for example, the dartgame player throws the dart while stepping on the touch unit 320, it maybe accepted that the dart game is righteously played in the remote multimode game.

As naturally recognized by those skilled in the art, a description withreference to FIGS. 9 to 14 is just an example and the sound outputmodule 141, the display 142, and the alarm unit 143 may be installed inat least one of the bottom part, the throw line, and the touch unit andat least one thereof may be appropriately displayed with the occurrenceof the event.

Some of the cameras of the camera unit 150 may be used to record atleast a part of the dart target and some cameras may start recordingwhen the dart game player touches the touch unit. Further, some of thecameras of the camera unit 150 may be used to record at least a part ofthe dart game player and the cameras may start recording when the dartgame player touches the touch unit.

The camera unit 150 will be described below in more detail.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a touch unit195 is touched by the dart game player, it may be determined that thedart game player is normally positioned in the rear of the throw line210 in order to throw the dart.

That is, when the dart game player touches the touch unit 195, it may bedetermined that the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart.

The controller 190 may allow the camera unit 150 to start the recordingat the time when the touch unit 195 senses that the dart game player isready for throwing the dart.

Since the recording starts from the time when the dart game player isready for throwing the dart, the quantity of recorded moving picturesmay be reduced.

When the sensing unit 120 senses that the dart contacts the dart target,it may be determined that a dart throwing action of the dart game playerends and since a moving picture acquired by recording the dart throwingaction of the dart game player is required to verify righteousness ofthe dart game, the moving picture needs not be recorded any longer whenthe sensing unit 120 senses the contact of the dart.

Therefore, the controller 190 allows the camera unit to perform therecording from the time when the touch unit 195 senses that the dartgame player is ready for throwing the dart up to the time when thesensing unit 120 senses that the dart contacts the dart target to reducethe quantity of the recorded moving pictures.

The moving picture recorded by the camera unit 150 may be stored in thememory 180 or transmitted to the outside through the network connectionunit 160.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the quality ofmoving pictures may be reduced by editing the moving picture based onthe time when the sensing unit 120 senses that the dart contacts thedart target. The camera unit 150 may record the dart game when the dartgame apparatus starts. The dart game apparatus may start by insertingthe coin, the touch of the touch unit 195 by the dart game player, startswitch-on of the dart game apparatus, and the like. The moving picturerecorded by the camera unit may be stored in a memory buffer unit 181for temporarily storing data. The controller 190 may determine that thedart game player throws the dart and edit the moving picture within apredetermined time from the time when the dart contacts among the movingpictures stored in the buffer unit when the sensing unit 120 senses thatthe dart contact the dart target. Since a moving picture required todetermine whether the dart game is righteously executed is primarilyfrom the moment when the dart game player throws the dart up to themoment when the dart contacts the dart target, the predetermined timewill be a short time from the moment when the dart game player throwsthe dart up to the moment when the dart contacts the dart target.

The moving picture within the predetermined time from the moment whenthe dart contacts, which is edited among the recorded moving picturesmay be stored in the memory 180 or transmitted through the networkconnection unit 160.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the movingpicture acquired by recording the dart game may be stored in the memorybuffer unit 181 in a first in first out scheme. When the dart contactsthe dart target, the sensing unit 120 may recognize that the dartcontacts the dart target. When it is recognized that the dart contactsthe dart target, the controller 190 may store moving picture data withinthe predetermined time based on the time when the dart contacts the darttarget among moving picture data stored in the memory buffer unit 181,in the memory unit 180.

For example, the controller 190 may store moving picture data before andafter the predetermined time from the time when the dart contacts thedart target among the moving picture data stored in the memory bufferunit 181, in the memory unit 180. A time before and after thepredetermined time may be, for example, from a time before 5 minutesfrom the time when the dart contacts the dart target to a time after 1minute from the time when the dart contacts the dart target byconsidering a time when the dart flies up to the dart target by throwingthe dart after the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart. Thisis just an example and a time appropriate to determine the righteousnessof the dart game may be arbitrarily determined.

Hereinafter, a state in which the dart game apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention is connected with the network willbe described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a game network including a dart gameapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the dart game apparatus 100 used by a firstgame player P1 may be connected with one or more servers (a media serverMS, a relay server RS, and a dart game server GS) through the network.

Multiple dart game players may enjoy the dart game in the same space atthe same time by using the same first dart game apparatus 100. However,when a second dart game player P2 positioned at a remote range from thefirst dart game player P1 intends to participate in the dart game, thesecond dart game player P2 is connected with one or more servers (themedia server MS, the relay server RS, and the dart game server GS)through the network by using the second dart game apparatus 100 totransmit and receive information to and from the first dart gameapparatus 100, thereby performing the dart game. The first dart gameapparatus 100 and the second dart game apparatus may transmit andreceive information via one or more servers (the media server MS, therelay server RS, and the dart game server GS) or directly transmit andreceive the information between the dart game apparatuses 100 and 200.

The dart game may be performed by differentiating places at which bothdart game players P1 and P2 perform a play at the same time or performedby a method in which both dart game players P1 and P2 play the dart gameat different placesat different time and decide winning/losing or aranking by storing play contents in the DB server DB.

The media server MS may store dart game play moving pictures of the dartgame players P1 and P2, which are stored by using the camera or themicrophone stored in the dart game apparatuses 100 and 200. The mediaserver MS may be included in the DB server DB.

The relay server RS connects communication between the multiple dartgame apparatuses 100 and 200. The relay server RS forms a communicationnetwork between the multiple dart game apparatuses 100 and 200positioned at the remote range to form a peer-to-peer (P2P) network.

The game server GS may exchange information (a score acquired by eachgame player and information for mutual communication among therespective game players) between the dart game apparatuses 100 and 200,transmit an advantage or a warning based on a game rule through therespective dart game apparatuses 100 and 200, or in addition, performtransmission and reception of information required to perform the dartgame and controlling the dart game apparatuses 100 and 200. The dartgame server GS aggregates winning/losing of the dart game and scores ofthe respective dart game players 100 and 200 to transmit the aggregatedwinning/losing and scores to the DB server.

The DB server may store personal information of the respective dart gameplayers 100 and 200, winning/losing and ranking information of the game,score information for each game, or a replay moving picture for eachgame. The DB server may store the information segmented for each user.The DB server may grant a unique code to each user and manageinformation for each user by using the unique code. The unique code maybe stored in the RFID module (an RFID card or an RFID module stored inthe mobile terminal) possessed by each user. As a result, the gameapparatuses 100 and 200 may identify each game player through theincluded user authentication unit 170. The DB server may also grant theunique code for identification even to the respective dart gameapparatuses 100 and 200 and manage the dart game data for eachidentification code granted to the dart game apparatuses 100 and 200.

The dart game player may access a web server WS by using a mobile 300(including electronic apparatuses such as the mobile terminal, acellular phone, a PDA, a PDP, and the like, which have a mobilecommunication function) or a PC 400. The web server WS may be connectedwith the mobile and the mobiles 300 and 400 by using an Internet or anintranet. Further, the web server WS may be connected even with the dartgame apparatuses 100 and 200. The web server WS is connected with the DBserver DB to provide the dart game data stored in the DB server to thedart game player.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dart target 110 may include predeterminedmultiple segmented areas. For example, the bullseye may be deployed atthe center, multiple areas may be segmented by multiple concentriccircles around the center and straight lines extended radially and thescore may be given for each area.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the camera unit 150 mayinclude multiple cameras 151 to 153.

A first camera 151 included in the camera unit 150 may be deployed torecord at least a part of the dart game player. For example, the firstcamera 151 may record at least a part of the dart game player, whichincludes the throw line. In the dart game, there are many cases in whichwhether to violate the game rule depends on whether the dart game playerillegally crosses the throw line. Therefore, when the first camera 151records the image frame including the throw line, the first camera 151may record a moving picture including the image frame required todetermine whether the dart game player illegally plays the dart game.

A second camera 152 included in the camera unit 150 may be deployed torecord at least a part of the dart target.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating recording areas of first and secondcameras.

As illustrated by a dashed-line of FIG. 3, the first camera 151 mayrecord a region R1 including at least a part of the game player. Asillustrated by a solid line, the second camera 152 may record a regionR2 including at least a part of the dart target. As illustrated in FIG.3, the first camera 151 and the second camera 152 may include a commonrecording region R3.

The controller 190 may generate a panorama image acquired by connectingimages recorded by the first camera 151 and the second camera 152 byusing the common recording region R3.

The memory 180 may store at least some of moving pictures recorded bythe first and second cameras. The moving pictures stored in the memory180 may be transmitted to the outside by the network connection unit 160and thereafter, deleted.

The network connection unit 160 may transmit the moving pictures storedin the memory 180 to the network. The moving pictures may be transmittedto the media server MS or transmitted to the data base server DB throughthe game server GS.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit 120 maysense a game motion for the dart target 110. For example, the sensingunit 120 senses a hitting location of the dart on the dart target andconverts the sensed location into a score corresponding to the hittinglocation to transfer the score to the controller 190.

The controller 190 may store in the memory a moving picture during apredetermined time interval including the time when the game motion(e.g., a motion by which the dart hits the dart target 110 in the caseof the dart game) is sensed by the sensor.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190may sense the time when the game motion occurs by using the movingpicture stored in the memory and store in the memory a moving pictureduring a predetermined time interval including the time when the gamemotion is sensed.

The controller 190 may analyze (e.g., determine that the game motion issensed when a dart moving rapidly is captured in the moving picture) themoving picture by using known image processing technology.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a moving pictureduring a predetermined time interval including a moment when a dart gamemotion is sensed is stored in a memory.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dart game apparatus 100 may sense moments(e.g., moments when the dart hits the dart target; E1, E2, and E3) whenthe dart game motion occurs by using image processing technology of thesensing unit 120 or the controller 190.

The dart game apparatus 100 may store both the moving pictures recordedby the first and second cameras 151 and 152 by using one region of thememory 180 or a buffer configured by a separate memory.

The controller 190 may selectively extract moving pictures correspondingto time intervals T1, T2, and T3 including the moments E1, E2, and E3when the dart game motion occurs from the buffer and store the extractedmoving pictures in the memory 180. The time intervals T1, T2, and T3 maybe configured similarly to or differently from the moving picturesrecorded by the first and second cameras 151 and 152.

For example, the controller 190 may store in the memory 180 movingpictures recorded for 1 second before the game motion occurs and for 3seconds after the game motion occurs with respect to the moving picturesrecorded by the first and second cameras 151 and 152. On the contrary,the controller 190 may store in the memory 180 the moving picturesrecorded for 1 second before the game motion occurs and for 3 secondsafter the game motion occurs with respect to the moving picturesrecorded by the first camera 151 and store in the memory 180 the movingpictures recorded for 3 seconds before the game motion occurs and for 1second after the game motion occurs with respect to the moving picturesrecorded by the second camera 152.

The controller 190 may store in the memory 180 moving pictures recordedduring time intervals not including the game motion occurrence momentsE1, 32, and E3 with respect to a moving picture recorded by any one ofthe first and second cameras 151 and 152.

For example, the controller 190 may store in the memory 180 movingpictures recorded during a time interval from 3 seconds after the gamemotion occurs to 6 seconds after the game motion occurs with respect tothe moving pictures recorded by the second camera 152.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a moving picture including a scoreof a game motion is generated and stored will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a stored moving picture including thescore of the game motion.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190may calculate the score by evaluating the game motion for the darttarget 110 and generate a moving picture in which the calculated scoreis displayed in at least a part and store the generated moving picturein the memory 180.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, in the case of the dart game, thecontroller 190 may evaluate the score for the game motion. For example,when the dart hits a region corresponding to 19 points in the darttarget 110, the game motion may be evaluated as 19 points.

The controller 190 may generate a moving picture in which the evaluatedscore S is displayed in one region of a screen by using the movingpicture stored in the memory 180. The score S may be deployed at an edgeof the screen or displayed in a semi-transparent form so as not to bedisplayed to overlap with a main scene of the game motion.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of performing primary authentication of thegame motion through the user authentication unit will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a game moving picture of which primaryauthentication is completed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a webpage displaying a dart game resultof which primary authentication is completed.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, after the gamemotion occurs, unique information of another game player which does notperform the game motion may be received by the user authentication unit170. In this case, the controller 190 processes that the moving pictureincluding the game motion is primarily authenticated.

When a third person positioned in the same place as the game playerverifies the play of the game player with eyes and evaluates theverified play as the righteous play, the third person may input uniqueinformation thereof through the user authentication unit 170. In thiscase, the controller 180 may determine the game data as game data havingcomparatively high reliability and determine that the game data isprimarily authenticated.

The controller 190 may display the primarily authenticated movingpicture differently from other moving pictures at the time of generatingthe moving picture for authenticating the game play.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 190 may generate a movingpicture displaying that the primarily authenticated moving picture isprimarily authenticated and store the generated moving picture in thememory 180.

The servers GS, DS, RS, and MS may manage the primarily authenticatedgame data differently from other game data.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the dart game player may read game datathereof or of other game players through the web server WS. The dartgame player may read game moving pictures of other game players throughthe web server WS and authenticate whether the game data of other gameplayers are established by irregular play.

The web server WS may authenticate game data (data authenticated by apredetermined number of persons or more and data authenticated by users(e.g., referees) having an authority granted by the server) thatsatisfies a predetermined criterion as authenticated official game data.The web server WS may separately manage the office game data.

When the user selects an icon I₁, the web server WS may provide awebpage displaying a ranking and game data including bothpreauthenticated game data and unauthenticated game data.

When the user selects an icon I₂, the web server WS may provide awebpage displaying a ranking and game data considering only thepreauthenticated game data. The web server WS may provide a webpageincluding an icon I₃ displaying primarily authenticated game data.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, thecontroller 190 may schedule a transmission time of the moving pictureaccording to a state of the network connected with the game apparatus100. The network connection unit 160 may transmit the moving picturesstored in the memory 180 according to the scheduling. In this case, thecontroller 190 may schedule the transmission time of the moving pictureby considering at least one of traffic amount of the network, whetherthe network is accessible, or an accessible time.

Hereinafter, a game data authenticating method of the game apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a dart game data authenticatingmethod of the game apparatus according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

The dart game apparatus 110 records at least a part of the game playerand at least a part of the dart target. The dart game apparatus 110stores at least some of the recorded moving pictures (S120). The cameramay be deployed to record the throw line in the dart game or in such amanner that the multiple cameras have a common recording area.

In storing at least some of the recorded moving pictures, the dart gameapparatus 100 may temporarily store all of the recorded moving picturesin the buffer (S121). The dart game apparatus 110 may selectively storemoving pictures recorded during a time interval including a time whenthe dart game motion occurs among the moving pictures temporarily storedin the buffer, in the memory (S122).

The dart game apparatus 100 may calculate the score by evaluating thegame motion of the game player (S123) and the dart game apparatus 100may generate a moving picture in which the evaluated score is displayedon at least a part of the screen (S124).

When the dart game motion associated with the generation of the movingpicture is performed and thereafter, unique information of the thirdperson is received through the user authentication unit 170, the dartgame apparatus may process a moving picture corresponding thereto to beprimarily authenticated.

A primary authentication work may be repeatedly performed every gamemotion or after the game ends at once, the primary authentication workmay be performed all at once with respect to one-time game.

When the unique information of the third person is not received throughthe user authentication unit 170, the game apparatus 100 performs a nextstep (S140) without the primary authentication work.

The game apparatus 100 may schedule the moving picture transmission time(S140) and transmit the moving picture to the server through the networkaccording to the scheduled result (S150).

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of a dart game recording method forrecording a moving picture of a part during a dart game by a dart gameapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, it may be sensed that the dart game player is ready for throwingthe dart. The sensing may be achieved when the dart game player touchesthe touch unit 195. Next, the dart game may be recorded from the timewhen the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart (1502). Next,it may be sensed that the dart contacts the dart target (1503). Thesensing may be achieved as the sensing unit 120 senses that the dartcontacts the dart target. Next, recording may be performed up to thetime when the dart contacts the dart target (1504). Further, in therecording, at least a part of the dart game player and at least a partof the dart target may be recorded. Last, at least some of the recordedmoving pictures may be stored or transmitted to the network (1505).

FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart of a dart game recording and editingmethod for editing a part of a moving picture acquired by recording adart game by a dart game apparatus according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

First, the dart game may be recorded (1601). The recording may beperformed by the camera unit 150. Next, the recorded moving picture maybe temporarily stored (1602). The recorded moving picture may betemporarily stored in the memory 180 or a separate buffer unit. Next, itmay be sensed that the dart contacts the dart target (1603). The sensingmay be achieved as the sensing unit 120 senses that the dart contactsthe dart target. Next, it is possible to edit a moving picture within apredetermined time from the time when the dart contacts among the storedmoving pictures when it is sensed that the dart contacts the darttarget. The editing may be achieved by the controller 190. Last, theedited moving picture may be stored in the memory or transmitted to thenetwork (1605).

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor storing some moving pictures during the dart game in the dart gameapparatus is disclosed.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart of a method for storing a partial movingpicture of a moving picture acquired by recording a dart game by a dartgame apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 17, first, the camera may record the dart game (1701).Next, the moving picture data acquired by recording the dart game may betemporarily stored in the memory buffer unit (1702). Next, the sensingunit may sense that the dart contacts the dart target (1703). Last, whenthe sensing unit senses that the dart contacts the dart target, thecontroller may store in the memory unit the moving picture data within apredetermined time based on the moment when the dart contacts from thememory buffer unit (1704).

Herein, the predetermined time based on the time when the dart contactsmay be a predetermined time before and after the dart contacts the darttarget or a part thereof.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that information andsignals may be expressed by using various different predeterminedtechnologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands,information, signals, bits, symbols, chips which may be referred to inthe above description may be expressed by voltage, current,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, or particles, optical fields orparticles, or predetermined combinations thereof.

Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate thatvarious exemplary logic blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits,and algorithm steps can be implemented by electronic hardware, varioustypes of programs or design codes (designated as “software” herein foreasy description), or a combination thereof described in associationwith the embodiments disclosed herein. In order to clearly describe theintercompatibility of the hardware and the software, various exemplarycomponents, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been generallydescribed above in association with functions thereof. Whether thefunctions are implemented as the hardware or software depends on designrestrictions given to a specific application and an entire system. Thoseskilled in the art of the present invention may implement functionsdescribed by various methods with respect to each specific application,but it should not be analyzed that the implementation determinationdeparts from the scope of the present invention.

Various exemplary logic blocks, modules, circuits described inassociation with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented orperformed by a general processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or predeterminedcombinations thereof. The general processor may be a microprocessor andalternatively, the general processor may be a predetermined existingprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processormay also be implemented as combinations of computing devices, forexample, a combination of the DSP and the microprocessor, multiplemicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors connected with a DSP core,or predetermined other components.

It will be appreciated that a specific order or a hierarchical structureof steps in the presented processes is one example of exemplaryaccesses. It will be appreciated that the specific order or thehierarchical structure of the steps in the processes within the scope ofthe present invention may be rearranged based on design priorities.Appended method claims provide elements of various steps in a sampleorder, but it does not mean that the method claims are limited to thepresented specific order or hierarchical structure.

Steps of a method or an algorithm described in association with theembodiments disclosed in the specification may be directly implementedby hardware, a software module which is executed by a processor or acombination thereof. The software module (including, for example,executable commands and related data) and other data may reside in a RAMmemory, a flash memory, a ROM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory,registers, a hard disk, a movable disk, a CD-ROM, or a data memory (forexample, a computer-readable medium) such as another predetermined typestorage medium which is technologically known. The exemplary storagemedium may be connected to a machine such as the computer or theprocessor (may be designated as the “processor”, for convenience), andas a result, the processor may read information (for example, softwarecommands from the storage medium and record information in the storagemedium. The exemplary storage media may be integrated with theprocessor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside in auser device. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may beincluded in the user device as individual components.

In one or more exemplary designs, described technologies may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, or predeterminedcombinations thereof. If the technologies are implemented, functions maybe stored in the computer-readable medium, transmitted as one or moreindications through the computer-readable medium, or coded in thecomputer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes both acomputer storage medium and a communication medium includingpredetermined media that facilitate transmission of a computer programfrom one location to another location. The storage medium may be apredetermined usable medium which may be accessed by a general orspecial-purpose computer. As an example, the present invention is notlimited and the computer-readable medium may be accessed by the RAM, theROM, the EEPROM, the CD-ROM, or another optical disk storage, a magneticfield disk storage, or other magnetic field storage devices, the generalor special-purpose computer, or a general or special-purpose processorand may include another predetermined medium which may be used totransport or store program code means required in the form of theindications or data structures. Further, all connections approximatelycome to a close as the computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, the server, or another remotesource by using a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, a twist pair, adigital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infraredrays, wireless, and a microwave, the coaxial cable, the optical fibercable, the twist pair, the digital subscriber line (DSL), or thewireless technologies such as the infrared rays, the wireless, and themicrowave are included in a definition of the medium. As used herein, adisk and a disc includes a compact disk (CD), a laser disk, an opticaldisk, a DVD, a floppy disk, a blu-ray disk and herein, the discsoptically reproduces data with a laser, while the disks generallymagnetically reproduce data. Combinations of the aforementionedcomponents will also be included in the range of the computer-readablemedium.

The description of the presented embodiments is provided so that thoseskilled in the art of the present invention use or implement the presentinvention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled inthe art and general principles defined herein can be applied to otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentspresented herein, but should be analyzed within the widest range whichis associated with the principles and new features presented herein.

1. A dart game apparatus for storing a part of a moving picture acquiredby recording a dart game, the apparatus comprising: a camera unit forrecording the dart game; a buffer unit for temporarily storing movingpictures recorded by the camera unit; a sensing unit for sensing that adart contacts a dart target; and a controller for generating a part ofthe moving pictures that comprises the moment that the dart contacts thedart target among the moving pictures stored in the buffer unit byediting the moving pictures when the sensing unit senses that the dartcontacts the dart target; wherein the part of the moving picturescomprises a time interval from a first predetermined time intervalbefore the moment that the dart contacts the dart target to a secondpredetermined time interval after the moment that the dart contacts thedart target.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a networkconnection unit for transmitting the part of the moving pictures to anetwork; and a memory unit for storing the part of the moving pictures.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera unit includes a firstcamera for recording at least a part of the dart game player and asecond camera for recording at least a part of the dart target.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a touch unit for sensing thatthe dart game player is ready for throwing the dart.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the first predetermined time interval comprises from amoment that the dart game player is ready for throwing the dart to themoment that the dart contacts the dart target.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein when the dart hits a predetermined region of the dart target,at least one corresponding region of a dart target of another dart gamedevice is deactivated.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium including a program code allowing at least one computer to storea part of moving pictures during a dart game by a dart game apparatus,the recording medium comprising: a program code for allowing a cameraunit to record a dart game; a program code for allowing a buffer unit totemporarily store moving pictures recorded by the camera unit; and aprogram code for allowing a sensing unit to sense that a dart contacts adart target; a program code for allowing a controller to generate a partof the moving pictures comprising the moment that the dart contacts thedart target among the moving pictures stored in the buffer unit byediting the moving pictures when the sensing unit senses that the dartcontacts the dart target; wherein the part of the moving picturescomprises a time interval from a first predetermined time intervalbefore the moment that the dart contacts the dart target to a secondpredetermined time interval after the moment that the dart contacts thedart target.
 8. A dart game recording method for recording a movingpicture of a part during a dart game by a dart game apparatus, themethod comprising: recording by a camera unit a dart game; temporarilystoring by a buffer unit moving pictures recorded by the camera unit;sensing by a sensing unit when a dart contacts a dart target; andgenerating by a controller a part of the moving pictures comprising themoment that the dart contacts the dart target among the moving picturesstored in the buffer unit by editing the moving pictures when thesensing unit senses that the dart contacts the dart target; wherein thepart of the moving pictures comprises a time interval from a firstpredetermined time interval before the moment that the dart contacts thedart target to a second predetermined time interval after the momentthat the dart contacts the dart target.